SALEM, Ore. – Unable to take advantage of an almost-even number of offensive opportunities, visiting George Fox University was touched for three first-half goals and two more in the second as the Willamette University Bearcats cruised to a 5-0 win over the Bruins in Northwest Conference men's soccer Saturday afternoon here at Sparks Field.

When the game was over, the Bearcats had only two more shots than the Bruins (16-14) and only three more shots on goal (9-6), and the Bruins actually had more corner kick opportunities (7-4).  Willamette was able to get their shots into openings in the defense, however, particularly Yazan Hishmeh, who finished with a 'hat trick' of three goals.

The Bearcats took a quick 1-0 lead at the 7:03 mark when Will O'Neil scored his second goal of the season off a throw-in by Jesse Thompson.  Hishmeh made it 2-0 by scoring on a penalty kick at 43:07, and he added his second goal only 30 seconds before the half by scoring on the rebound from another penalty kick.

Hishmeh made it three straight scores at 66:49 in the second half with his seventh goal of the season, connecting to the upper right corner of the net after a corner kick by Sam Zanetta.  Adan Vasquez put the finishing touches on the Bearcats' offensive show with a shot from eight yards out to the right side of the net off another assist from Zanetta.

Ricardo Sotelo made three saves in going the distance in the net for the Bruins, while Julian Juarez had three saves in 57 minutes and Josh Fuentes had two stops in 33 minutes for the Bearcats. Christian Reed led the George Fox offense with four shots, two on goal.  Hishmeh and O'Neil had five tries each for Willamette, with all five of Hishmeh's shots on target.

NEXT: George Fox (1-13, NWC 0-8) visits its Yamhill County rival, Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Sunday for a 2:30 p.m. contest … Willamette (7-4-2, NWC 3-3-2) hosts Pacific University Sunday, also at 2:30 p.m.